Feline Panleukopenia: A Re-emergent Disease

Feline panleukopenia (FPL) is caused by Carnivore protoparvovirus 1. Feline parvovirus (FPV) causes 95% of cases, whereas 5% are caused by Canine parvovirus (CPV) variants, specifically CPV-2a, b, and c. Outbreaks of FPL occur in shelters from summer to autumn (median age at diagnosis 2–4 months) associated with a seasonal influx of kittens with waning or absent maternally derived antibodies. In Australia FPL has re-emerged to cause large-scale outbreaks among unvaccinated shelter cats with spill over to the owned cat population. In contrast to CPV enteritis of dogs, hemorrhagic diarrhea occurs in only 3% to 15% of cases of FPL. Lethargy, anorexia, and fever, the most prominent signs in some cats, precede vomiting and diarrhea. Even with treatment FPL has a high mortality rate of 50% to 80%. Poor prognostic indicators include low leukocyte or platelet counts or hypoalbuminaemia or hypokalemia at presentation.